Apologies:

Jim Duffy, Julie Brookes, John Fay, Fiona Barry, Alex Peacock, Steve Alcock

ADGENDA

1/ AGM location / AGM format. It would be nice to back to a large room at the marina (or Similar) for 60+ people but consensus was that the Marina were not really geared up for big functions and it might be best to keep it as Virtual AGM again for this next year. Agenda for AGM was approved

2/ Paddler of the year – nominations (any more that we need to consider)

These were reviewed and discussed. Several names were added – KS to develop photos / descriptions for members to vote.

3/ New leaders to have DBS checks / fill in their self-declaration form RCl / KS to send Sharon list of any names.

Self Declaration Form……

4/Pools Update

Kingsway Pool - Thursday at Widnes was confirmed from 7^th October but the centre does not have the resources to open late on a Monday so this is NOT available at the moment. We will ask again later in the year. KS to develop the team to supervise this (Richard Clews may volunteer to be added)

Broadgreen pool has informed us that they are going to become an academy and all the leisure facilities and hire were being privatised.

We are due to become an academy on 1 October and our site manager has just informed me that we are only able to take bookings for year-round swimming schools going forward.

I am really sorry, but we are unable to accommodate your booking. The lettings will be run by an external company in the future, please try again at a late date as the current rules may change.

Halewood Pool – We have two sessions credited for this pool for polo. KS has to have a site visit to discuss our return in November for polo but will do this to see if we can also run a junior session there.

Would it be possible to arrange a site visit prior to returning please. If you can link in with the duty managers CC in this email as we would need to run through the logistics of the club returning.

Several other pools were mentioned – if anyone can initiate discussions for there use 1-2 hours a week but storage of boats is the normal issue as with early slots – eg not 9-10pm at night. Any contacts for new pools please let KS know.

5/ Peer Paddling within the club

The situation is that the club does not officially do “peer paddles”. We have discouraged it because we had lots of people who were perfectly qualified to lead / run / coach trips and sessions for the club, but they tended to say it was a "peer paddle" where nobody would be responsible and just turn up. It meant less organisation or responsibility for them but reduced opportunities of up-and-coming paddlers. This was clearly not ideal when we had new paddlers trying to develop and who are not capable of paddling on their own.

So...... currently I discourage the use of the word peer paddle. All official club paddling is led groups with a named coordinator or leader. Eg if someone is passed off by the club (not necessarily qualified) as able to lead a group and they are clearly in charge on the day then it should go on the calendar and be open to all. There is therefore some responsibly on them to follow the club guidelines on running a trip safely.

Just recently, I have asked others, who are using the club media (googlegroup) for others of similar ability to paddle with them to make is absolutely clear that it is not an official led club trip and they must be sure that they are fully capable of looking after themselves. It will not go on the club calendar, therefore club boats will NOT be available, but they can use googlegroup emails to ask for interested people to contact them to discuss / support the paddling. Eg Great Glen Trail. / The Great Orme

Your email was very clear and I did not feel the need to contact you about.. Clearly we do not want to encourage too much of this informal paddling as it may reduce official club trips. Provided there is enough official club paddling and trips for people to paddle, the odd “none official club trip” is fine. The wording of any such email / this whole issue may be something that the stewardship group discuss again on Monday night. Will think about that one.

Hope that explains a little of my thoughts, but it is a grey area.

Everyone who goes on any such trip must know:

· It is not a official club trip

· They must be responsible for their own safety.

· Club equipment is NOT available

· It will not go on the club calendar

KS to develop wording for the trips page on the website and send out an email to the wider club.

AOB

Liverpool Canoe Club